Transfer mechanism



K. A.- LEHMANN ETAL TRANSFER MECHANISM .Filedduly 31, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1' K; A. LEHMANN ET AL v May 17, 192.2.

TRAN SFER MECHANISM Filed July 31, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 17, 1932. K. A. LE'HMANN ETA]. 1,858,630

TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed July 31., 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 li atented May 17, 1932 UNITED STATES PAT NT 'orrlca ZKARL AUGUST AND ERNST BREITLING,.OF ESSEN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOBS TO I FRIED. KRUPP AKTIENGESELLSGHAIT, OI ESSEN-ON-TEE-BUHR, GERMANY TRANSFER MECHANISM Application fled July 81, 1928, Serial No. 296,448, and in Germany October 6, 1927.

The invention has for its object the improvement of the transfer mechanism of the type disclosing an intermediate wheel arranged between the counting wheel and the differential actuator and further also an intermittently moving transfer wheel designed iike 21- Geneva plate and arranged between the counting drum and the intermediate wheel carrier. When with transfer mechanisms of this character the execution of the transfer is effected immediately by the passage of the counting drum from 9 to 0, this method, when applied to transfer mechanisms with simultaneous transfer through a plurality of p orders, leads to a considerable accumulation of resistance, so that it is not feasible to proride this mechanism with totalizers that comprise more than 6 to 8 orders.

In order to make the above-mentioned transfer mechanism applicable in connection with totalizers comprising a higher number of orders, that period of the transfer operation which does not include the return of the transfer members having been operated before, is divided into two sub-periods, :as Known in a slmllar manner with other mechanisms, viz. into the preparation period and the execution period. According to the invention, the intermittently moving transfer wheel, that has turned upon the counting drum passing from 9 to 0, is rotated farther in the same direction by an actuation taking place subsequent to the differential motion of the differential actuators, the trans fer wheel carrying with it in this rotation the drawings Figure 1 is a side view of the transfer mechanism,

Figure 2 is a corresponding top view,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the transfer locking means,

Fig. 4 shows aportion of the mechanism with a counting drum at its 9 position, Fig. 5 shows the setting of the mechanism in its rest position after a transfer has been executed and before the transfer pinion has been reset to its'normal position,

Fig. 6 shows a transfer pinion with its associated counting drum in its zero, position,

Fig. 7 shows the transfer pinion in its preparatory position prior to the transfer executing movement,

Fig. 8 shows a portion of the locking mech-' anism of the eccentric carrier whereby the same is locked until the latter part of the machine cycle, and

Fig. 9 shows the portion of the locking mechanism illustrated in Fig. 8, in its rest position after a transfer has been executed, correspondin to Fig. 5.

Referring first to Fi 1,.the totalizer shaft is mounted in the totafizer frame 5, which is journaled on a shaft 6. An arm 7 of the totalizer frame has pivoted to it a pitman 8, which straddles a driving shaft 15 and engages, through an antifriction roller 9, a cam disk 10 fixed to the driving shaft 15. By rotating this driving shaft cam 10 will impart a rocking motion to the totalizer, thereby engaging or disengaging the associ ated mechanism. Journaled 0n the shaft 11 are counting drums 12 (Figs. 1 and 2) rigidly connected to the counting wheels 13 and mounted with them on the rockable shaft 11. By means of intermediate wheels 14 the wheels 13 co-operate with difierential actuators l6 loose on the driving shaft 15. The intermediate wheels 14 are carried by eccentries 17, which in their turn are rotatably mounted on a stationar shaft 18, and are adapted to execute a rocli ing motion over an angle of degrees. Upon the eccentric 17 being rocked 90 degrees in counter-clockwise direction, the intermediate wheel 14 rolls on the differential actuator 16, that may be considered stationary, and imparts to the appurtenant counting wheel 13, that has been brought into mesh therewith, an additive rotary motion of one unit. The rocking motion of the intermediate wheel 14 is initiated lee by a transfer pinion 19 that is likewise rotatably mounted on shaft 18 and the configuration of which is to be seen in detail from Figure 3. The eight teeth 21 to 28 of pinion 19 are of different width, tooth 21 being entirely cut away; numeral 21 in Fig. 3 designates the position of that tooth upon pinion 19 before it was cut away. The left-hand portion of the transfer pinion 19, which portion carries only the teeth 24 and 26, co-operates in known manner with the counting drum 12 that has a recess 29. Only one transfer tooth 31 is associated with the recess 29 instead of the otherwise usual transfer pocket consisting of two transfer teeth, for the reasonshereinafter explained, tooth 31 co-operating with the tooth 25 of the pinion 19 in such a manner, that it imparts in common with the'recess 29 to the transfer pinion 19 a quarter of a revolution in the direction of arrow 32, Figure 1, upon the respective counting wheel executing a passage from 9 to 0. While, with the above-mentioned older mechanisms the quarter of a revolution caused by said passage of the transfer pinion, immediately provokes the rocking motion of the intermediate wheel 14 and the execution of the transfer operation, there is no such immediate action in the present case. On the contrary, the execution of the transfer operation is reserved to a particular' actuating motion, that takes place after the motion of the differential actuators 16 has come to an end. For this purpose, the transfer pinion 19 is not rigidly or positively connected with the eccentric 17 but is provided on its right-hand side, see Figures 3 and 8, with an extension 33 of quadrant cross section that co-operates with an extension 34, Figures 3, 8, of the eccentric 17 the operative surfaces 35, 36 of extension 34 forming an angle of 180 degrees, so that the transfer pinion 19 is enabled to turn freely .90 degrees relatively to the eccentric 17.

In the position of rest of the mechanism the extensions 33, 34 assume the position illustrated in Figures 3 and 8. When a 90 degrees rotation is imparted to the transfer pinion 19, upon a passage, the face 37, Figure 8, of its extension 33' comes to abut on the face 35 of extension 34, without impart mg any motion to the latter. When the transfer operation so prepared is executed, a

further rotation of degrees is imparted to transfer pinion 19, Figure 9, whereby the extension 34 is carried over together with the eccentric 17 and the motion of the next higher counting wheel by one transfer unit takes place in the above-described manner. The executing motion of the transfe; pinion 19 is effected by a disk 38, Figure 2, rigid onshaft 15, and two actuating lugs 39, 41, that co-operate with the right-hand portion of the transfer pinion 19, Figure 3. The teeth 23, 24, 25 of pinion 19 are cut away stepwise in such a manner, that tooth 23, Figure 2, remains out of the path of the lug 41, tooth 24 out of that of lug 39, and tooth 25 out of that of disk 38, irrespective of the position of rotation the pinion l9 assumes.

During the motion of the differential actuator 16 a recess 43, Figure 7, of disk 38 is opposite the pinion 19, so that the latter is free to rotate. Upon the pinion 19 being preparatorily rotated 90 degrees due to the passage from 9 to 0, the tooth 23 arrives in the position shown in Figure 7, in which it is opposite shaft 15. Upon shaft 15 rotating, which takes place in clockwise direction, the front offsets 44, 45, 46, somewhat cut away, of the lugs 41, 39 and of the elevated edge section 42 of disk 38 arrive in the range of pinion 19. The lug 41 then exerts only that effect on the latter that it engages the tooth 22 and thereby secures the pinion 19 in the preparatory position or sets it thereinto, if, by reasons hereinafter to be explained, the pinion should happen to have remained a little behind this position.

Immediately. thereafter the tooth 23 is engaged by the offset 45 of lug 39, whereby pinion 19 is turned 45 degrees, whereupon the offset 46 of the disk 38 engages the tooth 24 and turns the pinion 19 farther by 45 degrees, so that it arrives in the position illustrated in Figure 5. In this rotation of pinion 19 by altogether 90 degrees, which rotation is not hindered by the tooth 28, which is cut away in the range of the counting drum 12, Figure 3, the appurtenant eccentric 17, Figure 9, has been advanced by the same angular amount with the aid of the extensions 33, 34, so that the transfer has been executed. At the end of the executing rotation of pinion 19 the locking edge 42 of disk 38 enters the ga between the teeth 26 and 24 and. secures t e pinion 19 and therewith the eccentric 17, Figure 9, in the rocked position.

The offsets 44, 45, 46 for the individual orders of the totalizer are distributed in a helical disposition relatively to shaft 15 in such a manner, that, upon shaft 15 rotating in clockwise direction, firstly the offsets 44, 45, 46 of the units order, then those of the tens order and so on come to act, so that the executing rotation is already finished in one order, when it begins in the next higher order. A reliable transfer through a plurality of orders is thus obtained.

Instead of the offsets 45 and 46 ordinary teeth may be employed that co-operate with pinion 19, the above-described arrangement, however, is more favorable, as it prevents under all circumstances the pinion 19 from not catching onto the actuating means, when it is not exactly in correct position.

The third stage of the transfer, that is the return of the displaced transfer elements, which takes place at the beginning of the next operation, is effected by a return disk The teeth 55, 56, 57 possess a recess which may be entered b a locking arc 59, Figure 4, rigidly connecte to the return disk 47, Figures 2 and 5. That portion of tooth 54 which corresponds to the left-hand portion, not cut away, of the teeth 55 to 57, is cut away in its turn. In the plane of the left-hand portion of the return pinion 49 is arranged the return disk 47. The latter has on its circuninning fcrence a recess 61, Figure 4, an actuating offset 62, a further offset 63, and two locking faces 64, 65 having between them a series of teeth 66. The locking are 59 is arranged exactly beside these teeth 66.

In the position of rest, that means, when no transfer has been prepared, the return pinion 49 assumes the position illustrated in igure 4. When shaft is turned, the lockarcs 59, 64 and 65 can pass freely through the gap between teeth 51 and 57, without influencing the return inion 49. However, upon a rotation of 180 (ihgrees being imparted to pinion 19 in the transfer preparation and subsequent execution, the return pinion 49 arrives in the position illustrated in Figure 5, in which the tooth 54 is turned toward shaft J 15, that means,'is'in the path of locking are 59. In this case the upper edge 68, Figure 5, of are 59 will impart, upon shaft 15 rotata preparatory rotation to the return pinion 49, by engaging the tooth 54 at the beof the next operation of the machine, by which rotation the tooth 55 and subsequently the teeth 56, 57 come into mesh with the series of teeth 66, and the return pinion 49 is moved back into position of rest, Figure 4. Due to its being in mesh with pinion 49, the pinion 19 has imparted to it likewise a rotation of 180 degrees and thus returns into initial-position and moves back to initial position also the eccentric 17, this occurring during the last 90 degrees section of this rotation and through the intermediary of extension 33, Figure 8.

Special arrangements have been made to positively conduct and hold, respectively, the

' 1 two pinions 19, 49 and the eccentric 17 during aii. stages of the adding and transfer operation, inclusive the period during which the totalizer is thrown-in.

To this end firstly a locking disk 69, Figures 8 and 2, is provided, which is rigidly fixed on the driving shaft 15 and co-operates by a locking are 73, limited by two offsets 71, 72, Figure 8, with a corresponding face 74 of extension 34 of eccentric 17. Furthermore, the

disk 38, Figure 7, possesses a small locking talizer is thrown into operation,

are 77 limited by two offsets 75, 76 and followed by a recess 79 extending up to the offset 78 of the locking are 42.

The entire transfer mechanism operates in the following manner: In the position of lest of the machine the parts concerned assume the position illustrated in Figure 1. The totalizer is out of operative position. In those orders in which no transfer has taken place in the preceding operation of the machine, the locking arc (Figure 5), opposite the return pinion 49, of the return disk 47 is engaging the gap between the teeth 51 and 57, whereby the return pinion 49 and therewith the transfer pinion 19 opposite to which is the recess 79, Figure 7, of its actuating disk 38, are secured against rotation.

The eccentric 17 is likewise held in initial position by the extension 33, Figure 8, abutting on extension 34. In those orders, in which a transfer had taken place during the preceding operation of the machine, the locking are 65 of disk 47 is in mesh with the gap between the teeth 53, 55 of return pinion 49 as shown in Figure 5, whereby the return pinion 49, transfer pinion 19, and the eccentric 17 are likewise locked but in a position displaced 180 degrees relatively to the initial position, see Figure 9. During the operation of the machine one full revolution is imparted to shaft 15. When this takes place,

the locking are 59 and the teeth 66 of the return disk 47 arrive in the range of the return pinion 49, whereby the displaced return pin ions 49, transfer pinions and eccentrics 17 are positively moved back into their initial position in the described manner. During this return motion the pinions 49 that have not been displaced, during the preceding operation, remain completely locked in their initial position, although their tooth 51 is tempo rarily released by the gaps of the series of teeth 66 and cou d enter in mesh with them due to shocks or the like, because the full locking are 59 also glides away along the tooth 51. After the teeth 66 and the locking are 59, the locking arcs 64 arrive in the range of the return pinions 49, all of which now assume their initial position. Now the tothe counting wheels 13, Figure 1, engaging the intermediate wheels 14. and the circumferential faces of the counting drums 12 engaging the gaps between theteeth 24 and 26 of the pinions 19. At the same time the locking are 73, Figure 8, of the locking disk 69 engages the face 74 of the extension 34 of eccentric 17, whereby the latter is locked immediately in initial position. For the preparatory rotation which might be required for the transfer mo-,

tion now following, the pinions 19 and 49, Figure 4, are released, as soon as offset 63 of disk 47 leaves tooth 57. If no other locking means was provided, the locked condition of the pinions with respect to the other direction of rotation would already end when offset 63 leaves tooth 51. In order to have the pinions 19 and 49 locked against rotation opposite to arrow 67, Figure 4, also during that period of time, in which offset 63 moves from tooth 51 u) to tooth 57, so that this time is not lost for the actuation of the totalizer, the small locking are 77, Figure 7, has been provided, the offset 7 5 of which has an angu- 10 lar distance from offset 63, Figure 1, corresponding to the angular distance of the teeth 28, 57, relatively to shaft 15. Shortly after the return motion has been completed by the teeth 66, the locking arc-7 7 Figure 1, arrives under the tooth 28 and thereby secures pinion 49 against a rotation in the direction opposite to arrow 67. As the offset 75 leaves the tooth 28 at the same instant as the offset 63 leaves tooth 57, the pinions 19, 49 remain locked in both directions up to this instant. After the pinions 19, 49 have been released by the offsets 63, 75, the actuators 16, Figure 1, are rotated in clockwise direction by the numeral amounts to be added, this causing a corresponding rotation in the same direction of the counting members 12, 13 through the intermediary of the wheels 14. When one of the countingdrums passes thereby from 9 to 0, the appurtenant pinions 19, 49 are rotated 90 degrees and thus set in the described manner into preparatory position, the face 37,

- Figure 8, of extension 33 engaging the face of extension 34 of the eccentric 17, and the pinion 19 being locked in the one direc- 35 tion by the extension 34, which is secured by the locking disk 69, and in the other direction by the tooth 26, Figure 4, engaging the circumferential face of the counting drum 12. Immediately before the oflsets 44 to 46 arrive in the range of the pinions 19, Figure 7, locking are 7 3, Figure 8, leaves face 74 of extension 34 and releases the eccentric 17 which thereupon either, if a transfer has been prepared, is turned 90 degrees in counter-clockwise direction in the described manner by the offsets 44, 46 through the intermediary of the pinions 19, 49 and extensions 33, 34 and executes herewith the transfer, or, if no transfer has been prepared in 50 the appurtenant order, is secured in initial position by the arcs 41, 39, and 42, Figure 7, entering the gap between the teeth 22 and 28. While the last section of the locking arcs 42 moves opposite the pinions 19, the locking are 65, Figure 5, arrives opposite the return pinions 49. Now the release of the totalizer takes place. At the end of the rotation of shaft 15, the parts assume the position shown in Figure 1, in which the locking arcs 42 are out of mesh with the pinions 19 and the eccentries 17 are being locked, according to whether or not a transfer has taken place with them, in the upper or lower position by the locking arcs 65 through the intermediary of the pinions 19, 49 and extensions 33, 34, Fi ure 8.

he above-mentioned disposition of one single transfer tooth 31 only Figure 4, instead of two such teeth has been chosen in order to reduce the danger of tooth 25 of pinion 19 not catching upon the totalizer being thrown-in. To this end the zero position and the nine position of the counting drum 12 are further so determined, that the tooth 31 has the same distance from tooth 25 in both said positions, as is to be seen by comparing Figure 4, in which the counting drum 12 is in nine position, with Figure 6 that shows it in zero position. A consequence thereof is, however, that in these two positions the recess 29 is not located symmetrically to the pinion 19. While in the nine position of the counting drum 12 the two teeth of pinion 19, co-operating with the circumferential face of the drum, are completely covered, Figure 4, so that pinion 19 is completely locked, in the zero position of the counting drum, Figure 6, the lower tooth projects towards recess 29, whereby a noxious partial rotation of the pinion 19 in clockwise direction and of the pinion 49 in opposite direction might occur, if the parts concerned are not finished to exact measures or have worn out. This noxious rotation however is eliminated by the offset 44 that leads with regard to the ofl'sets 45, 46, Figure 7, which are the proper transfer execution offsets, as the offset 44, which engages either the tooth 28 or, if a transfer preparation had taken place, the tooth 22, moves the pinion 19 back into the prescribed position provided forthe engagement of thefollowing offset 45.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a transfer mechanism a differential actuator, a counting wheel, an intermediate wheel arranged between them and adapted to transmit the movement of said actuator to said counting wheel, a rockable carrier for said intermediate wheel upon rocking of which the intermediate whee-l transfers a unit to its counting wheel, a driving member, means for establishing a co-operative relation between said driving member and said carrier when the counting wheel of the next lower order passes from 9 to O, and means for normally locking said carrier against movement throughout the movement of said driving member and for releasing said carrier for movement upon operation of said means for establishing said cooperative relationship.

2. In a transfer mechanism a differential actuator, a counting wheel. an intermediate wheel arranged between them and adapted to transmit the movement of said actuator to said counting wheel, a rockablc carrier for said intermediate wheel upon rocking of which the intermediate wheel transfers a unit to its counting wheel, a transfer member co-operating with the counting wheel of the next lower order and adapted to receive an initial movement by it when passing from 9 to 0, a driving member coupled with said rockable carrier by the initial movement of said transfer member, and means for normally locking said transfer member against movement and for releasing said member for movement upon said initial movement thereof, and said transfer movement.

3. In a transfer mechanism a differential actuator, a counting wheel, an intermediate wheel arranged between them and adapted to transmit the movement of said actuator to said counting wheel, a rockable carrier for said intermediate wheel upon rocking of which the intermediate wheel transfers a unit to its counting wheel, a counting drum fast to said counting wheel, a transfer wheel connected with the counting drum of the next lower order by a Geneva train and adapted to be moved when the counting drum of the next lower order passes from 9 to 0, and a driving member coupled with said carrier by the movement of said transfer wheel.

4. In a transfer mechanism a differential actuator, a counting wheel, an intermediate wheel arranged between them and adapted to transmit the movement of said actuator to said counting wheel, a rockable carrier for said intermediate wheel upon rocking of which the intermediate wheel transfers a unit to its counting wheel, a transfer member co-operating with the counting wheel of the next lower order and adapted to receive an initial movement'by it when passing from 9 to 0, a coupling arrangement between said transfer member and said rockable carrier adapted to execute a lost motion movement of said transfer member amounting to said initial movement, and a driving member normally out of relation with said transfer memoer and coupled with it by said initial movement for moving the transfer member farther in the direction of the initial movement and to impart to said carrier the rocking movement. r

5. In a transfer mechanism a differential actuator, a counting wheel, an intermediate wheel arranged between them and adapted to transmit the movement of said actuator to said counting wheel, an eccentric bearing said intermediate wheel and adapted to be rocked over an angle of degrees and thereby causing the intermediate wheel to transfer a unit to its counting wheel, a transfer pinion co-operating with the counting wheel of the next lower order and adapted to receive an initial movement by it, when passing from 9 to 0, a coupling-arrangement between said transfer member and said eccentrio, a driving member, a tooth of said transfer pinion engaging said driving member upon said initial movement as to be moved farther by said driving memher and to transmit the tens unit to the counting wheel.

6. In a transfer mechanism a counting drum, a transfer pinion adapted to engage said counting drum in Geneva-train relation and receiving an initial movement when said counting drum passes from 9 to 0, a driving member adapted to execute the transfer by engaging and farther moving the transfer pinion having received the initial move ment, certain teeth of said transfer pinion being cut away, whereby said transfer executing movement of the transfer pinion may be executed at the time when it is in engagement with said driving member.

7. In a transfer mechanism a counting drum, a transfer pinion adapted to engage said counting drum in Geneva-train relation and receiving an initial movement when said counting drum passes from 9 to 0, a driving member adapted to execute the transfer by farther moving the transfer pinion having received the initial movement, certain teeth of said transfer pinion being suitably cut away whereby said transfer executing move ment of the transfer pinion may be executed,

and locking means adapted to limit the movement of said transfer pinion to said initialmovement until it is engaged by said driving member.

8. In a transfer mechanism a counting;

taking place, so

drum, having a smooth circumferential face,

a recess therein and a single tens tooth are] ranged flush with said face and one side ofs said recess, and laterally extending from said,

drum, a transfer pinion having two locking teeth normally engaging said circumferential face and a single counter-tooth co-operating with said tens tooth so as to rotate said trans fer pinion when the counting drum asses from 9 to 0, said recess freeing one 0 said locking teeth, the distance between the coun-] ter tooth of said transfer pinion and the tens,

tooth in the zero and nine position of the counting drum being substantially the same.

9. In a transfer mechanism a counting drum having a smooth circumferential face, a recess therein and a single tens tooth arranged flush with said face and one side of said recess, and laterally extending from said drum, a transfer pinion having two locking teeth normally engaging said circumferential face and a single counter tooth cooperating with said tens tooth so as to rotate said transfer pinion when the counting drum passes from 9 to 0, said recess freeing one of said locking teeth, both locking teeth being locked in the nine position of the counting drum, and in the zero position only one locking tooth being locked by said circumferential face, and a separate means for securing the second tooth of said transfer pinion when said counting wheel is in its zero-position.

10. In a transfer mechanism, a transfer pinion having a position of rest, a position of preparation and a position of execution, a driving member co-operating therewith, and having a locking face engaging a tooth omission of said pinion when the latter is in its position of rest, a plurality of offsets fixed to said driving member, a plurality of teeth beif}? stepped correspondence with said 0 sets on said pinion co-operating with said offsets, moving the pinion from its position of preparation to its position of execution and being stepwise cut away so the passing of the offset which has actuated its tooth is not hindered by the following tooth.

.11. In, a transfer mechanism, a transfer pinion, means for locking it temporarily comprising a counter pinion is mesh with said. pinion-,a movable locking face co-operating go with-said pinion and terminating in a shoulder, a second movable locking face co-operating with said counter pinion and terminating in another shoulder; said shoulders being spaced from one another a distance corresponding to the distance between the axes of the two pinions so as to release their coor dinated pinions at the same time, said shoulders locking said transfer pinion in both directions up to this time.

12. In a transfer mechanism a transfer pinion, means for moving said pinion into a preparatory position, a driving member adapted to be moved in a definite direction and thereby actuating the prepared transfer an pinion, a return-pinion permanently in mesh with said transfer pinion, and a return member co-operating therewith and adapted to restore the transfer pinion after being actu ated by said driving member into its initial position by moving the return member in the same direction as the driving member is moved.

13. In a transfer mechanism, a transfer pinion, means for moving said pinion into a 5 preparatory position, a driving member adapted to be moved in a definite direction and thereby actuating the prepared transfer pinion, a return pinion permanently in mesh with said transfer pinion, a return member co-operating therewith and adapted to restore the prepared transfer pinion after being actuated by said driving member into its initial position, and a locking means for said return member, for locking the transfer pinion during the return movement of the return memher if said transfer pinion had not been moved into a preparator position.

The foregoing speci cation signed at ggpgne, Germany, this 16th day of July,

KARL AUGUST LEHMANN. ERNST BREITLING. 

